Carnage in Karachi

No light at the end of the tunnel?

The fast deteriorating law and order situation in the financial and business hub of the country is of concern to all. Perhaps with the exception of those at the helm of affairs?

According to media reports, army chief General Ashfaq Kayani after visiting the perennially troubled metropolis conveyed the apprehensions of the military’s top brass to the President Asif Ali Zardari regarding the worsening state of affairs in Karachi.

Even the Supreme Court has used very strong language to observe that Sindh government has failed to protect the lives of the citizens. Taking suo moto notice of the bomb blast in Karachi’s Shia neighborhood Abbas Town, it ordered the removal of IG Sindh and other police officers responsible.

Ironically, the very day the Chief Justice of Pakistan and the Army Chief were in town, the MQM (Muttehda Quami Movement) gave a call for an indefinite strike till the perpetrators of the Abbas Town attack were arrested. The call was given by the ethnic outfit’s leader Raza Haroon but was withdrawn after a few hours.

However, the damage was done. There was complete chaos in the city. One person – incidentally an ethnic Sindhi – was gunned down for refusing to shut down his business. Scores of buses were torched.

There are different theories about why MQM aborted its call for an indefinite bandh. Did Raza Haroon, as some claimed, unilaterally give the call without consulting his colleagues and the boss? Which is why he had to abort it. This is highly unlikely in a party where only the supremo Altaf Hussain rules the roost.

The probable cause for the MQM’s quick about face is that it wanted to demonstrate its hold on Karachi, which it did quite successfully.

Furthermore, for the first time, the business and finance community and the transporters reacted very strongly to a call for an indefinite strike. After all, Karachi is their bread and butter. And enough is enough.

The MQM’s chimerical politics are an enigma. For over a decade now, its cardholder Ishratul Ibad has remained governor of the province. Many a time, he has ostensibly resigned only to continue on the express orders of Altaf Bhai.

The very day the city was in a complete tail spin as a result of an indefinite strike call by MQM, the British High Commissioner Adam Thompson called on the governor. According to the caption of the photograph of the meeting carried by the Dawn front page in its Thursday edition, “issues of mutual interest, including the investment climate in Pakistan were discussed at the meeting held after the MQM’s strike call.”

Is it indeed not ironical that while Karachi literally on fire, on MQM’s call, its nominee ensconced in the governor house is discussing investment climate in the city with top British diplomats.

A plausible explanation could be that the British being host to its supremo for many years now has some clout with the MQM, that was effectively used to thaw the situation. Whatever the explanation of MQM’ s welcome move to call off the strike, the fact remains that the political support to marauding mafias in Karachi is the nub of the problem. Political outfits, including the MQM, are part of the problem and also of the solution.

According to the unofficial account of General Kayani’s meeting with President Zardari, the COAS expressed his dissatisfaction at the improper use of civilian law enforcing agencies (LEAs), including the Rangers.

The apex court has expressed similar sentiments on more than one occasion. The Chief Justice is of the opinion that things could have been fixed by now if the Sindh government had been dismissed, according to the Court’s recommendation when the unrest in Karachi had just started.

The military is reluctant to intervene on its own, as this would be tantamount to imposing martial law, no matter how limited. The PPP-led coalition unsurprisingly is loath to summon the military in aid of civil power under Article 245 of the Constitution.

After General Kayani called on him, the president rushed to Karachi. He has been briefed on the situation. However, his options are limited. With just over a week left for the government to complete its term, it will be problematic to call in the army.

However, the question remains that if the TTP (Tehreek e Talban Pakistan) in cahoots with the Lashkar e Jhangvi (LEG) continue with their nefarious designs, elections would merely become a farce. The bhatta mafias and target killers backed by their respective political masters are adamant to guard their turf in Karachi come what may. Hence with violence in the air, the coming days could be bloodier.

There is a growing lobby in the country that feels elections or no elections, the military should intervene to save the country from further imploding. Is the proverbial, “man on horseback”, ready once again to emerge as the saviour?

Hazara Shias after the Quetta carnage had demanded that the army should intervene. They paralyzed the whole country as a result of their dharnas to force their demands. However, the military under General Kayani has shown no inclination to intervene.

If the situation nevertheless keeps on sliding the civilians might have no recourse but to call in the army. In any case relatively peaceful elections without military’s logistical and intelligence support and protection will be difficult to hold.

The president while in Karachi should spend quality time with his interlocutors. Unless rising above political expediencies decisive measures are taken without further delay things will continue to slide.

One should rue the day if Gallup or other such surveys start claiming that majority of Pakistanis want military rule back. Thankfully the situation has not just come to such a pass as yet.

However, the achievement of a civilian government completing its full term and holding elections on its watch might just be perceived as a pyrrhic victory if the country keeps on going down in a nose dive.

The writer is Editor, Pakistan Today